Born and raised in Xiamen, China, I got my Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry and Cell Biology from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) in 2017. On the other side of the Pacific Ocean, I got my PhD in Biology from Caltech in 2024, working with Alexei Aravin on piRNA and genome defense. Currently, I am a postdoc at Cornell working with Andy Clark and Cedric Feschotte on selfish DNA, intragenomic conflicts, and evolutionary biology. Outside the lab, I like to hike, bike, and explore local boba and coffee shops. Find me on Twitter/X @peiwei_chen